How do I get the base off my Vitamix without the "special" tool?

Your canister/pitcher is leaking?
It is probably blade assembly & bad seal.
You will need a special wrench to correct this.

check here:

Contact Us Customer Service Vitamix

Or here:

Vitamix Wrench

You need a special tool,

Try vitamix directly:

https://www.vitamix.com/Customer-Service/Contact-Us

Contact Us Customer Service Vitamix

or look here:

Vitamix Wrench

You will need a special wrench to remove blade assembly.
then the gasket/seal is inexpensive.

you can check here:

Contact Us Customer Service Vitamix

or check here:


Vitamix Wrench

Your container may have a bad seal at the blade assembly??

You will need a special wrench to remove it.

check here:

Contact Us Customer Service Vitamix

Or here:

Amazon com vitamix wrench assembly Home Kitchen

Vitamix says they will fix units up to 20 years old or so????

check here:

Contact Us Customer Service Vitamix

Don't know about 30-40 years old????

good Luck

Check here for replacement of necessary part to be replaced.

Fairly easy to do. You can find a video on how to replace a vitamix potentiometer or Pot for short, check youtube.

vitamix potentiometer

Need special tool:

check here:

Amazon com vitamix wrench assembly Home Kitchen

Sounds like your drive socket broke. Use a small allen wrench to loosen set screw under arrow on drive socket. You will have to order a new socket from Vitamix. Hope this helps.

Sounds like you have wrecked something, you just place the beaker on the motor base, no turning required.

first check the blades on the container thay should turn easy by hand if not thats your problem , you will need blades . blades turn easy ? you will need to replace the motor . the temp /overload has changed and is tripping to easy . this is common with people that use there vitamix for tough chores a lot . a lesser blender would just burn up a motor in a puff of smoke .a vitamix dies this way . in the end its the same you will need a motor